Denmark’s Parliament on Thursday passed a law widely known as the Quran Law, banning the “inappropriate treatment” of religious texts. Offenders now face a fine or up to two years in jail after a vote followed a five-hour debate in parliament and 94 members voted in favour, 77 against.
During Thursday’s heated debate in Denmark’s 179-strong parliament, The Folketing, many opposition MPs argued against the bill but the country’s center-right coalition government of Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen argued that criticising religion would remain legal, as the bill would only have a marginal impact.
It follows a series of burnings of Islam’s holy book that led to uproar in Muslim countries.
Denmark and neighbouring Sweden have recently seen several street protests over such incidents, raising security concerns in Scandinavia.
Sweden is also considering a similar bill.
